Future Technology Briefing Biological Computing - Article Description

Future Technology Briefing Biological Computing
As we reach the technically feasible limits of the current electronic
technology of the desktop computer, a new breed of biologically modified (DNA)
computers of the future may have the capacity to impact and alter desktop
computing forever, through miniaturization that could bring huge increases of
computing capacity, power, storage and speed. Biological computing is a form of
computing which uses DNA, biochemistry and molecular biology, instead of the
traditional silicon-based computer technologies. Biological computing, or, more
generally, biomolecular computing, is a fast developing interdisciplinary area. DNA
might one day be integrated into a computer chip to create a so-called biochip that
will push computers even faster. DNA molecules have already been harnessed to
perform complex mathematical problem. It solves a well-known mathematical
problem, called the directed Hamilton Path problem, also known as the "traveling
salesman" problem. The goal of the problem is to find the shortest route between a
number of cities, going through each city only once. These are energy efficient
component materials, easily obtained, nontoxic, massively parallel processing
unparalleled control over living processes, Adaptation, Self-assembly, healing and
self-improvement. More than 10 trillion DNA molecules can fit into an area no
larger than 1 cubic centimeter (0.06 cubic inches). With this small amount of DNA,
a computer would be able to hold 10 terabytes of data, and perform 10 trillion
calculations at a time. The parallel computing that allows DNA to solve complex
mathematical .problems in hours, whereas conventional computer might take
hundreds of years to complete them. The use of DNA computing could finally dull
Moore's Law. Leonard Aldeman, the father of the ground breaking DNA computing
work has said that "DNA has been storing the blueprint of life for several billion
years. Its powers are an untapped legacy for the 21st century." The relatively young
topic is a different approach to technology then we're currently used to seeing.